Electrical connector for attachment plugs having means to attach conductors thereto



Aug. 23, 1955 J. P. COOK 2,716,227

ELECTRICAL CONNECTOR FOR ATTACHMENT PLUGS I HAVING MEANS TO ATTCH CONDUCTORS THERETO Filed Sept. l, 1953 John P. 000k INVENToR.

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United States Patent O ELECTRICAL CONNECTOR FOR ATTACHlVIENT PLUGS HAVING MEANS TO ATTACH CONDUC- TORS THERETO John P. Cook, Colqnitt, Ga.

Application September 1, 1953, Serial N0. 381,203

6 Claims. (Cl. 339-274) The present invention relates to new and useful improvements in electric wall receptacles, connectors or the like for the reception of electric plugs.

An important object of the invention is to provide novel terminal means for connecting the circuit wires to the contacts of the receptacle without necessitating the use of tools.

To this end the invention includes the provision of a channel member with which the contacts are formed and in which terminals arms for the wires are pivoted to double the wire upon itself in a clamping locked position in the channel.

A further object is to provide a device of this character of simple and practical construction, which is eflicient and reliable in operation, relatively inexpensive to manufacture and otherwise well adapted for the purpose for which the same is intended.

These together with other objects and advantages which will become subsequently apparent reside in the details of construction and operation as more fully hereinafter described and claimed, reference being had to the accompanying drawings forming a part hereof, wherein like numerals refer to like parts throughout, and in which:

Figure 1 is a plan view of the receptacle with the cover plate removed;

Figure 2 is a longitudinal sectional view taken on a line 2 2 of Figure 1;

Figure 3 is a side elevational view of the cover plate;

Figure 4 is a transverse sectional view taken on a line 4-4 of Figure 1;

Figure 5 is a plan view of the blank for the terminal arm; and

Figure 6 is a plan view of the blank for the channel member.

Referring now to the drawing in detail, wherein for the purpose of illustration I have disclosed a preferred embodiment of my invention, the numeral 5 designates a substantially rectangular shaped casing of insulation material and having a pair of longitudinal channels 6 formed therein adjacent the sides of the casing and separated from each other by a central longitudinal rib or partition 5a.

A channel member 7 is secured in each channel 6 by screws or the like 8 inserted in opening 8a in the channel member and each channel member is formed from a blank sheet 9 of bendable conductive material having a pair of contact tongues 10 at one longitudinal edge of the sheet which are bent downwardly after the channel member is formed for insertion in openings 12 in the bottom of the casing and in which the prongs of an electric plug (not shown) are received to engage the contacts 10. The blank 9 is also formed along its longitudinal edge with a pair of clamping tongues 18 for bending downwardly in clamping engagement with terminal arms 15 which are pivoted in the ends of the channel member by transverse pins 16.

The pair of clamping terminal arms 15 are mounted in the channel member 7 adjacent each end of the latter by means of transverse pins 16 engaged in openings 8b in the sides of the channel member and in openings 17a in anges 17 at the side edges and adjacent one end of the arms for swinging the arms vertically in the channel member. The end of each arm adjacent its pivot is also formed with an end iiange 18 having an opening 19 therein to receive the bare end 20 of a circuit wire 14 which is placed longitudinally in the outer end of the channel member at the underside of the arm.

The arm 15 is also constructed of a blank 21 of bendable conductive material to one end of which the end flange 18 is formed and a pair of bendable tongues 22 project laterally at opposite sides of the arm at its other end and are bent in overlapping relation to each other over the end 20 of the circuit wire to clamp the wire to the arm.

When connecting the circuit wires in the opposite ends of the channel members 7, the arms 15 are swung upwardly, as shown at the left in Figure 2, and the bare end 20 of the wire is inserted in opening 19 adjacent the pivoted end of the arm and clamped to the upper surface of the raised arm by the clamping tongues 22. The arm is then swung downwardly to bend the wire upon itself and the arm is locked between the flanges of the channel member 7 by bending tongue 13 over the top of the arm.

A cover plate 23 is then secured on the back of the casing 5 by dovetail tongues 24 at the underside of the cover frictionally engaged in complementary grooves 25 in the side edges of the casing.

From the foregoing, the construction and operation of the device will be readily understood and further explanation is believed to be unnecessary. However, since numerous modications and changes will readily occur to those skilled in the art, it is not desired to limit the invention to the exact construction shown and described, and accordingly all suitable modifications and equivalents may be resorted to, falling within the scope of the appended claims.

What is claimed as new is as follows:

l. An electrical connector comprising a casing of insulation material, and having openings therein adapted to receive the prongs of an electric plug, a pair of channel members of conductive material in the casing, resilient contacts carried by the channel members in the path of the prongs when inserted in said openings, said channel members being adapted to receive circuit wires longitudinally in at least one end thereof, and longitudinally swingable terminal members pivoted in the channel members and to which the wires are attached for bending the wires upon themselves in clamping engagement in said channel members.

2. An electrical connector comprising a casing of insulation material, and having openings therein adapted to receive the prongs of an electric plug, a pair of channel members of conductive material in the casing, resilient contacts carried by the channel members in the path of the prongs when inserted in said openings, said channel members being adapted to receive circuit wires longitudinally in at least one end thereof, and longitudinally swingable terminal arms pivoted in the channel members and to which the wires are attached for bending the wires upon themselves in clamping engagement in said channel members.

3. An electrical connector comprising a casing of insulation material, and having openings therein adapted to receive the prongs of an electric plug, a pair of channel members of conductive material in the casing, resilient contacts carried by the channel members in the path of the prongs when insertedin said openings, said channel members being adapted to receive circuit Wires longitudinally in at least one end thereof, a longitudinally swingable terminal arm pivoted in each channel member for swinging inwardly and outwardly of the latter, and means securing the Wires in a longitudinal position to one side of the arms to bend Vthe wires upon themselves in the channel members upon .a downward swinging movement ofthe arms in said members.

4. An electrical connector comprising a casing of insulation material, and having openings therein adapted to receive the prongs of an electric plug, a pair of channel members of conductive material in rthe casing, resilient contacts carried by thechannel members in the path of the prongs when inserted in said openings, said channel members being adapted to receive circuit wires longitudinally in at least one end thereof, a longitudinally swingable terminal arm pivoted in each channel member for swinging inwardly and outwardly of the latter, land bendable tongues carried by said arms clamping the wires in a longitudinal position to one side of the arms for bending the wires upon themselves in the channel members upon a downward swinging movement of the arms in said members.

5. An electrical connector comprising a casing of insulation material, and having openings therein adapted to receive the prongs of an electric plug, a pair of channel members of conductive material in the casing, resilient contacts carried by the channel members in the path of the prongs when inserted in said openings, said channel members being adapted to receive circuit wires longitudinally in at least one end thereof, a longitudinally swingable terminal arm pivoted in each channel member for swinging inwardly and outwardly of the latter, bendable tongues on said arms for clamping the wires thereto for bending the Wires upon themselves upon a downward swinging movement of the arms in said members, and bendable tongues also on the channel members and bendable transversely thereof over the arms to lock the arms in the channels.

6. An electrical connector comprising a casing of insulation material, and having openings therein to receive the prongs of an electric plug, a pair of channel members of conductive material in the casing, resilient contacts carried by the channel members in the path of the prongs when inserted in said openings, said channel members being adapted to receive circuit wires in at least one end thereof to position the wires longitudinally in the channel members, and a terminal arm pivoted adjacent one end in each channel member and having a right angularly disposed end portion provided with an opening adjacent its pivoted end for receiving one of the circuit wires in a position longitudinally of the arm for bending the wire upon itself upon a downward swinging movement of the arm in said member. Y

References Cited in the tile of this patent UNITED STATES yPATENTS 

